Paul de Smet de Naeyer

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Paul Comte de Smet de Naeyer

Count Paul de Smet de Naeyer (born May 13, 1843 in Ghent , † September 9, 1913 in Brussels ) was a Belgian Catholic politician and Prime Minister.

Family and professional activities

The son of an industrial family from Ghent later became a partner in the family cotton business and co-owner of a bank, general manager of the then largest Belgian investment company Société Génerale de Belgique and shareholder of numerous coal mines.

Political career

MP and Senator

In 1886 he became a member of the Chamber of Deputies, where he represented the interests of the Katholieke Partij of the Arrondissement Gent-Eeklo until 1908 . From 1908 until his death he was a senator for the province of East Flanders .

Minister and two-time Prime Minister

On March 26, 1894 he became finance minister in the cabinet of Jules de Burlet , which he succeeded on February 25, 1896 in the office of Prime Minister. In his cabinet, which was in office until January 24, 1899, he again took over the office of finance minister.

After the transitional cabinet of Jules Vandenpeereboom , which was in office until August 5, 1899 , de Smet de Naeyer took over the office of Prime Minister again. He remained in office until May 2, 1907 and was also Minister of Finance and Minister of Public Works. During this tenure he campaigned for a strengthening of the Navy. De Smet de Naeyer was an opponent of universal suffrage and state education.

In 1899 he was awarded the honorary title of "Minister of State" for his political services. In 1900 King Leopold II ennobled him Count.

Biographical sources

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Smet de Naeyer, Paul de
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Smet de Naeyer, Paul Comte de
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Belgian politician and prime minister
DATE OF BIRTH May 13, 1843
PLACE OF BIRTH Ghent
DATE OF DEATH September 9, 1913
Place of death Brussels